Seeking durable luggage for family travel? Look no further than Eagle Creek. This company of travelers and innovators has been perfecting luggage and duffels to improve the travel experience since 1975. Their stuff is made to withstand a beating and even comes with a lifetime warranty. Whether flying overseas, embarking on a road trip with kids, or heading to a campsite, you know Eagle Creek will get your family's belongings to your destination safe and sound. I took their wheeled Expanse Drop Bottom Duffel and Expanse Flatbed for a spin. Read on for my full Eagle Creek Expanse review. Plus, enter our giveaway for a chance to win your own Eagle Creek Expanse bags!

Eagle Creek's Expanse Line

Eagle Creek‘s Drop Bottom Duffel and Flatbed are duffel bag/suitcases that are part of their Expanse line. Both are equipped with sturdy treaded wheels to help you navigate over rough terrain. This means easy steering, whether you're an outdoorsy family or you'll be rambling over cobblestones in European cities. These roomy bags can stow all sorts of family gear. Plus, they come with external lash points for securing bags to the car rooftop for extra space on family road trips.

The Eagle Creek Expanse Drop Bottom Duffel and Flatbed easily fit into the back of my messy minivan along with my daughter and dog! (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Eagle Creek Expanse Drop Bottom Duffel

The Drop Bottom Duffel's namesake feature, the Drop Bottom compartment, provides a zip-away divider to separate camping gear from clothing. You could also use this zipped area to separate dirty and clean clothing during any type of travel. Additionally, the Drop Bottom's sturdy duffel handle makes it easy to carry over terrain not suitable for wheels. The Drop Bottom Duffel comes in one roomy size: 14 x 32 x 16 inches and weighs in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces. You can really cram a lot of travel gear and other goodies into this baby.

Eagle Creek's Drop Bottom Duffel boasts a roomy compartment for camping gear, dirty clothing or teddy bears (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Eagle Creek Expanse Flatbed

Similar to the Drop Bottom Duffel, the Flatbed offers a separate compartment, but it's much smaller. The Flatbed is more of a standard and sturdy suitcase that can be used as a duffel. Like the Drop Bottom, it's got duffel handles on four sides, making it easy to load in and out of the car. It comes in two sizes, both with plenty of room to store your family's stuff. Choose the 32-inch (16 x 32 x 12.25 inches; 9 pounds, 4 ounces) or 29-inch (16 x 29 x 12 inches; 8 pounds 14 ounces).

The Eagle Creek Expanse Flatbed stands up on its wheels but also has duffel handles on four sides (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Drop Bottom Duffel vs. Flatbed

If you're trying to decide between the two pieces of luggage for family travel, I can provide a little insight. For travelers planning to use the bag for frequent camping trips, I'd say the Drop Bottom should be your pick. Meanwhile, the Expanse Flatbed stands up on its own and therefore would be my pick for flights. For road trips, it's a toss up. Eagle Creek's Drop Bottom Duffel and Flatbed are versatile and can be used for any kind of travel, really. Why not get both?

Visit Eagle Creek's website now to see all of their innovative luggage and travel gear.

Eagle Creek Expanse Drop Bottom Duffel on left and Flatbed on right (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Eagle Creek Expanse Giveaway

Enter to win both of these pieces of Eagle Creek Expanse luggage for family travel using the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents ages 18+ only. No purchase is necessary. Read additional terms and conditions.
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